(MEBG) — Qatar’s Qatargas company has reported that its exports of liquefied natural gas (LNG) from January 1997 until the end of June 2000 totaled $2.5 billion, with 80 percent of that destined for Japan.

Qatar has the world's third largest gas reserves after Russia and Iran. Qatar’s offshore North Field contains proven non-associated reserves of more than 10 trillion cubic meters.

Qatargas is a joint venture between Qatar General Petroleum Corporation which holds 65 percent; France's Total with10 percent; Exxon Mobil of the United States, with 10 percent; and the Japanese companies Mitsui and Marubeni, each with 7.5 percent.